May 13--Firefighters continued working Monday to contain a fire in the Gila National Forest that had engulfed at least 4,700 acres, according to the Forest Service.
The Signal Fire, which broke out Sunday afternoon about 15 miles north of Silver City, continued to spread north and east on Monday despite cooler weather, according to Forest Service spokeswoman Punky Moore.
A couple of ranches, a campground and a Forest Service lookout tower were evacuated, she said, but Silver City did not appear to be threatened.
"People are a little anxious because there is a lot of smoke," Moore said. "It's widespread and very visible from Silver City. So the perception is always that it's closer than what it is."
A Type 2 management team was called in Monday to organize the response as the fire grew more complex. Six 20-person Hotshot crews and several engines were fighting the fire, Moore said. All told, about 300 personnel were on site, she said.
Business owners in Pinos Altos and the Lake Roberts area said they had seen the smoke but had not been told to leave.
"All we have had is a spectacular view of the fire with no issues," said Bob Pelham, who owns Pinos Altos Cabins. "The wind yesterday was favoring us."
The Gila National Forest and other forests across New Mexico have been weakened by drought, leaving them especially susceptible to fire. High winds on Sunday initially fueled the Signal Fire's rapid growth.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Frances Land, owner of Spirit Canyon Lodge and Cafe off Highway 35 in the Gila National Forest, said the fire was still "a distance away" from her property.
"It's spring in the Gila and these things do happen," she said. "It's certainly bad for business, but hopefully soon it will be under control."
Copyright 2014 - Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
